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I just recently started weight training with a cross fit style coach about five weeks ago.. I did 2 weeks of twice a week, and 3 weeks of 3 times a week.

I have very little body strength and we're basically working from the 'ground up'.. We lift heavy with low reps (i.e. 4 sets of 8 reps with 100 pound squats)..

I'm also on a meal plan with lots of fats and protein, some berries. Lots of fish oil.

I'm really enjoying the weight training but I'm starting to get anxiety because my period is 25 days late (essentially I missed it - this hasn't happened for me since I stopped taking birth control over 2 years ago, my cycle has been pretty regular)..

I've also noticed small white heads on random places (legs, inner fold of arm).. Is weight training a shock to my system and causing my testosterone to spike or something? This is weird though because over exercise shouldn't be an issue because I have plenty of body fat from being 'skinny fat' (22 years old, 5'6, 138) and 3 times a week is far from extreme... But I am fairly out of shape..

Have any other women experienced a similar situation??

Any insight that can be provided would be GREATLY appreciate

Thanks :)

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 And you're sure you're not pregnant? – Vern Jun 27 at 17:29
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 I would love to see one of these questions where one of the first comments isn't "are you sure you're not pregnant". I would hope that has already been ruled out. – Sara S. Jun 27 at 17:36
Sloan, I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that after finding out that I had very high testosterone and rock bottom progesterone (normal estrogen), and then taking small doses of progesterone cream during the luteal phase of my cycle, I've missed my period, too. I've never been irregular, and yes, I checked (using morning urine) and I'm not pregnant. Nor am I perimenopausal. I hope you find some good answers: I've had a tough time tracking down good information on this. – Sara S. Jun 27 at 17:39
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 there is no chance I could be pregnant unless its immaculate conception... – Sloan Jun 27 at 18:19

4 Answers

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1) How long have you been eating paleo? What's your carb intake like?

2) "Over-exercise shouldn't be an issue because I have plenty of body fat from being 'skinny fat'." A person can have lots of body fat and still be exercising too hard. Hard exercise doesn't just require fuel; it has many effects on the body. You might be increasing your cortisol too much by jumping into these hard work-outs.

3) Have you lost weight recently? That could cause a missed period. Although even without seeing a difference on the scale, a sudden, dramatic increase in exercise could definitely make you skip a period.

4) Changes in hormone levels can also make you miss a period. If you've dramatically altered your diet and your work-out routine, it's very likely that your hormonal balance has been effected, which could result in both the break-outs and the missed period. Some people will say you just need to give it a few months and then everything will be fine, but because you are young and a healthy weight, I would be careful. I would not assume that this is just a "detox" or something like that. It might be, of course, but it might also be a sign that you are taxing your body too much, too fast.

5) Are you only feeling anxiety because of the missed period, or have you experienced an increase in anxiety in general? Some people do great on low-carb, others feel much more anxious after a month or two (seems like many of these people were at a normal weight when they started, like you). Watch your anxiety levels. If you feel more anxious than normal, don't ignore it! That's a sign that you need to change up what you're doing.

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thanks so much for your thoughtful response.. And to start off, I think anxiety is the wrong word, I think I'm just more so confused as to where my period is... I'm actually far less stressed and more happy.. Before working out I was low carbish paleo, now my Coach has me eating oatmeal (I know its not paleo but the carbs make me happier)... I had too many mood swings without the carbs... – Sloan Jun 27 at 18:22
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 Okay, good, I'm glad you are feeling happier and less stressed. That's a good sign. I would not stress about eating oatmeal at all -- I feel better with rice than without it, personally. If it's just one period you skip, I would not worry too much. It's not unusual for a healthy woman to skip an occasional period. I'd wait and see what happens next month. – Violet9 Jun 27 at 18:29
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Occasionally skipping a period is pretty normal for most women. If it happens again any time soon, you may want to have your GYN run some hormone level tests. I was as regular as can be except for a few cases of extreme stress causing me to be late, until I was in my mid-20's. Then I randomly started skipping periods and became somewhat irregular. Turns out I have PCOS, which is pretty common. I didn't do anything to treat it until I was ready to have a family, but it was nice to know what was going on.

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I have no idea as to why, but I'm seeing a similar thing, down to the random whiteheads (including one on my knee; wtf, body?). Potential confounding factor: I was on the Pill until very recently, but my body seemed to just stop responding to it (I didn't have any symptoms or anything, but I would go on the placebo week and nothing would happen and then halfway through the real pills I'd start menstruating - it seemed like my body was just ignoring the pills and doing its own thing regardless). But I stopped about a month ago and haven't had any period since.

22 years old, 5'4", and I work out a lot more than you do but I know what overexercise feels like and I take care to stay far away from that.

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I missed a period when I started doing 100% paleo and was weightlifting- might have been ketosis, the changes in lifestyle, lots of things. The good thing is it came back. If it was just one, I wouldn't worry about it.

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